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Interior Health (IH) is responding to the potential for fire-related impacts to health facilities and clients in the community of Ashcroft due to the Shetland Creek wildfire. As a precautionary measure, IH is relocating 21 residents from Jackson House long-term care home and five clients from Thompson View Lodge assisted living facility to alternate locations away from the impacted area. Interior Health is contacting families directly and providing updates on the location of their loved ones. The Ashcroft Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) is not impacted at this time - anyone requiring care should proceed to the UPCC as needed. Regular hours for the UPCC are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week. Interior Health is also working with all community clients to make plans for them to have access to the services they need should they need to evacuate. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility. Emergency department services are available 24/7 at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. This is an evolving situation and we are working closely with municipalities, regional districts, and the BC Wildfire Service to ensure precautions are underway to protect patients, clients, and individuals in long-term care. Those requiring support during this crisis are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789. Interior Health also continues to monitor wildfire activity across the region. Everyone is reminded to make preparations for wildfires, and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/Emergency/Wildfires/Pages/default.aspx Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status The FireWork Forecast shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours: https://weather.gc.ca/firework/ We will provide updates as new information is available.

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital due to limited physician and nursing availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 p.m. on Friday, July 19 to 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 20.  Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time.  All other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan General Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Oliver is normally open 24/7.

Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, has released the following statement in response to the global system disruption that is affecting many health-authority-owned facilities:  “Over the night of Thursday, July 18, 2024, B.C. was made aware of a global system disruption that is affecting many health-authority-owned facilities, including hospitals. Emergency services, including 911 and ambulances, are not impacted by this disruption and are operating as usual. “We know that this disruption is impacting some patients and their families, and health authorities are working to get their systems back up as soon as possible. “Our primary concern is the continuity and quality of patient care. We have implemented contingency plans to ensure that our health-care services remain operational and that patient care is not disrupted to the best of our ability. “Staff at the Provincial Health Services Authority remain in contact with Crowdstrike, a global cybersecurity firm used by organizations around the world that generated this outage, to discuss solutions. Further investigations are underway to assess the extent of the disruption and a provincial emergency operations centre was activated to assess and mitigate impacts. “I would like to thank the health-care workers and everyone who has been working on this disruption overnight. An initial group of IT staff were deployed in the early hours of Friday, July 19, 2024, to health-authority-owned facilities to provide IT support and more are on the way. “During this period, there may be some impacts to our staffing systems, and we apologize in advance for any inconvenience caused by unplanned service interruptions that may occur.”

Women will have improved access to cancer care as the Province expands gynecological oncology surgical services to new regions and strengthens the teams providing care with more staff, including new gynecological oncologists. “Over the past 10 years, rates of gynecological cancer have increased by almost 50%,” said Premier David Eby. “When someone is diagnosed, they need the best possible care, close to home, where they have the support of friends and family. We are establishing new surgical and treatment services in Kelowna and Surrey and further expanding services in Vancouver and Victoria. The expansion of this critical provincial program includes hiring more health-care workers and nearly doubling the number of surgeons providing gynecologic cancer care in B.C.” The expansion of services and care teams throughout B.C. will significantly improve access to specialized surgical and related cancer treatment for women and people assigned female at birth. Gynecologic cancers include cervical, ovarian, vaginal, endometrial, uterine cervix, vulvar, gynecological sarcoma, Fallopian tube and gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. “Expanding gynecological oncology services, increasing the number of surgical and treatment centres from two to four and hiring additional gynecological oncologists is a significant step forward for female cancer care in British Columbia,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to providing timely and specialized care for women facing gynecologic cancers and is a crucial part of our broader strategy to support cancer patients and their families across the province.”  The new programs will be established in Kelowna and Surrey to address the growing demand for gynecological cancer surgical care throughout B.C. These are in addition to two existing programs in Vancouver and Victoria, which previously delivered gynecological cancer care to people from throughout the province. “I am very pleased to see gynecologic oncology services expanded in health authorities throughout the province,” said Dr. Sarah Finlayson, division head of gynecologic oncology, Vancouver Coastal Health. “With this much-needed expansion, patients will receive quality care closer to home and we will see improved wait times for cancer surgery.” Seven new gynecological oncologists will work with cancer-care teams that include as many as 76 full-time equivalents (FTE) of family physician oncologists, nurse practitioners, nurses, clinical pharmacists, unit clerks and other clinical and administrative support staff. “As a woman from a rural community myself, I know how important it is for patients to have care close to home and to be supported by their loved ones, to have timely access to care and to reduce their financial burden,” said Dr. Joni Kooy, a gynecologic oncologist who is joining the new program in Interior Health. “I and my two surgical colleagues are joining an exceptional team at the cancer centre in Kelowna, and I look forward to getting started.” The program in Kelowna is expected to start in September 2024, with services provided by three new gynecological oncologists as well as a team of as many as 27 FTEs of new clinical and administrative support staff to provide enhanced pre- and post-surgical support. The second new program will be located in Surrey and will be staffed by three gynecological oncologists as well as an enhanced pre- and post-surgery support team. In addition to the two new programs, gynecological oncology services in Victoria will be expanded through the addition of a third gynecological oncologist, as many as 22 FTEs of new clinical and administrative support staff, and increased operating room hours. The Vancouver program will increase to seven gynecological oncologist FTEs and 20 FTEs of new clinical and administrative support staff. Since January, additional operating-room hours have been added at Vancouver General Hospital to support increased access. This work is supported through the Province’s recent investments to improve cancer care. As part of Budget 2024, government invested $270 million over the next three years to support B.C.’s 10-year B.C. Cancer Action Plan, which outlines actionable steps to better prevent, detect and treat cancers, delivering improved care for people facing cancer now, while preparing for growing needs. In January 2024, the Province announced a provincewide cervix self-screening program, Canada’s first at-home screening option. Along with the cancer-preventing HPV vaccine, B.C. could eliminate cervical cancer in a decade. From January to May, more than 50,000 kits were sent to people throughout the province. Staff recruitment to support the expansion of cancer care in B.C. is part of B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy, which advances 70 actions to retain, recruit and train health-care workers in B.C., while supporting innovative health-system redesign and optimization. Quick Facts: A gynecological oncologist is a physician who specializes in treating women or people assigned female at birth with reproductive-tract cancers. It takes 11 to 12 years of training to become specialized in gynecological oncology. In 2023, 2,026 people in B.C. were diagnosed with gynecological cancer, representing an increase of 46% from 2013. Learn More: To learn more about B.C.’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HLTH0090-001025 To learn more about B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HLTH0150-001930 A backgrounder follows.

The B.C. health system has been impacted by the global Crowdstrike disruption which is impacting our networks and computers across all systems. Our primary concern is the continuity and quality of patient care. We have implemented contingency plans to ensure that our health-care services remain operational, and that patient care is not disrupted to the best of our ability. Please refer to this website for updates. If you have any questions on a health-care appointment today, please call your health-care providers. Please do not call the hospital switchboards at this time.Update: Minister Dix statement on global system disruption

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre due to limited physician availability.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 a.m. on Friday, July 19 to 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.

Interior Health is closely monitoring wildfire activity throughout the region. Developing wildfires across B.C. are being monitored for threats to health facilities and services. While no Interior Health facilities are impacted at this time, we are working with our partners including BC Wildfire Service, Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, Health Emergency Management BC and municipalities, regional districts and Indigenous communities to ensure precautions are underway to protect patients, clients and residents. When wildfires occur, Interior Health works to prepare community clients in the event of an evacuation. Additionally, we monitor any possible impacts to health care facilities to plan for the safety of patients, residents and staff. As wildfire activity increases, everyone is reminded to prepare for the hot temperatures and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: Wildfires | Natural Disasters & Emergencies | IH (interiorhealth.ca). Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status Notices on evacuation orders and alerts will come through your local municipality or regional district. Check your local municipal/regional district website for updates on potential impacts, including evacuation orders and alerts, related to wildfire activity. The Environment and Climate Change Canada FireWork predictions system shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours: https://weather.gc.ca/firework/

Interior Health is reminding people to be safe as prolonged heat warnings from Environment and Climate Change Canada continue across the Interior Health region and temperatures in many areas are increasing heading into the weekend. While the Province has not declared an extreme heat emergency for this region, the risk of heat-related illness increases with elevated temperatures. With prolonged periods of hot temperatures, it is important to monitor indoor temperatures as well as take precautions when spending time outdoors. The BC Centre of Disease Control provides a broad range of heat-related guidance on its website, including information on the different types of heat alerts, how to prepare for hot temperatures, symptoms of heat-related illnesses, those most at risk during hot weather and ways to stay cool.   Preparing for and responding to hot weather  If you have air conditioning at home, make sure it is in good working order.  If you do not have air conditioning at home:  Find somewhere you can cool off on hot days. Consider places in your community to spend time indoors such as libraries, community centres, movie theatres or malls. Also, as temperatures may be hotter inside than outside, consider outdoor spaces with lots of shade and running water.   Close windows, curtains and blinds during the heat of the day to block the sun and prevent hotter outdoor air from coming inside. Open doors and windows when it is cooler outside to move that cooler air indoors.   Ensure that you have a working fan, but do not rely on fans as your primary means of cooling. Fans can be used to draw cooler late-evening, overnight and early-morning air indoors.   Keep track of temperatures in your home using a thermostat or thermometer. Sustained indoor temperatures over 31 C can be dangerous for people who are susceptible to heat.  If your home gets very hot, consider staying with a friend or relative who has air conditioning, if possible.  Identify people who may be at high risk for heat-related illness. If possible, help them prepare for heat and plan to check in on them.   Who is most at risk?  It is important to monitor yourself, family members, neighbours and friends during hot weather. Consider developing a check-in system for those who are at high risk of heat-related illness.   Everyone is at risk of heat-related illness, but hot temperatures can be especially dangerous for:  Older Adults  People who live alone   People with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression or anxiety   People with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory disease   People with substance use disorders   People with limited mobility and other disabilities  People who are marginally housed   People who work in hot environments   People who are pregnant   Infants and young children  Your health:  Drink plenty of water and other liquids to stay hydrated, even if you are not thirsty.  Spray your body with water, wear a damp shirt, take a cool shower or bath or sit with part of your body in water to cool down.   Take it easy, especially during the hottest hours of the day.   When outside, stay in the shade and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.  Take immediate action to cool down if you are overheating. Signs of overheating include feeling unwell, headache and dizziness. Overheating can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.  Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, severe headache, muscle cramps, extreme thirst and dark urine. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should immediately seek a cooler environment, drink plenty of water, rest, use water to cool your body and monitor your symptoms.   Signs of heat stroke include loss of consciousness, disorientation, confusion, severe nausea or vomiting and very dark urine or no urine. Heat stroke is a medical emergency – call 911.  Medical emergencies: In the event of any medical emergency, call 911. However, it is important to use 911 responsibly to avoid overwhelming the system.   When to call 911:  In cases of heat stroke: loss of consciousness, disorientation, confusion, severe nausea or vomiting or very dark urine or no urine.  In general: when there is chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe burns, choking, convulsions that are not stopping, a drowning, a severe allergic reaction, a head injury, signs of a stroke, signs of an overdose or a major trauma.  If you have a less urgent health issue:  You can call HealthLinkBC at 811 and speak with a nurse or go to an urgent care centre or clinic if you can do so safely. That way, our emergency medical dispatch staff and paramedics will be available for people who need their services the most.  There are also online tools at healthlinkbc.ca, including a “Check Your Symptoms” tool.    More information can be found in BC’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide and on the Interior Health website at https://www.interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/natural-disasters-and-emergencies/extreme-heat.

Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital due to limited nursing availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 14, 2024. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops or 100 Mile House District General Hospital in 100 Mile House during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital is normally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.